Nexus

Pure Android, from Google

Google's Nexus devices are sold directly from the Google Play Store, unlocked and running the latest version of the Android OS — Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Nexus line consists of four current devices — the Motorola Nexus 6 and LG-made Nexus 5 smartphones, and but a single tablet — the Nexus 9.

Nexus 9: The Nexus 9 was announced on Oct. 15, 2014, and represents the first of the new generation of Android hardware. The Nexus 9 is made by HTC and is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra K1 system on a chip. In the LTE-capable model, the off-die modem comes from Qualcomm. The Nexus 9 is the first proper 64-bit device in the Android stable. Price starts at $399 for the 16-gigabyte model.

Nexus 6: Also announced on Oct. 15, the Nexus 6 essentially is an oversized second-generation Moto X with new camera software. It's still using a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, so no 64-bit goodness for this guy. The Nexus 6 launched with major carrier support in the United States, until now unheard of for the Nexus line. That also means it's subject to the usual carrier subsidies, and gone is the lower price you'd get for an unlocked model directly from Google.

Nexus Player: While Chromecast ushered in the era of streaming from Android to TV — or, rather, using your phone or tablet to have the connected Chromecast device stream content on its own — Nexus Player scales things up a bit. The $99 box (a flat circle, really) serves as a Chromecast while also offering a "leanback" experience for any number of streaming services, including YouTube, Google Play, Hulu and the like, plus it's an Android gaming console, with an option $39 controller.

Nexus 5: The current Nexus smartphone, launched on Oct. 31, 2013 along with Android 4.4 KitKat and made by LG. Prices start at $349 in the U.S. for a device with a 5-inch 1080p display and a Snapdragon 800 CPU with 2GB of RAM. It's also got an 8-megapixel rear camera with Google's novel "HDR+" camera, and a 2300mAh non-removable battery. The Nexus 5 supports 4G LTE in North America and the rest of the world across two models, the D820 and D821.

Nexus 7 (2013): The second-generation 7-inch Nexus tablet, manufactured by ASUS. Compared to the 2012 original, the 2013 Nexus 7 sports a higher-resolution display at 1920x1200 pixels, a thinner chassis and faster CPU — a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro with 2GB of RAM. The Nexus 7 launched at $220 in the U.S. for the 16GB Wifi model, with more expensive 32GB and LTE-connected models also available. We've got more on the 2013 Nexus 7 in our full review.

Nexus 10: Released in late 2012 alongside the Nexus 4, the Samsung Nexus 10 remains the current 10-inch tablet offering from Google. It comes with 16 or 32GB of storage and a high-resolution 2560x1600-resolution display and a dual-core Samsung Exynos 5 CPU. As of early 2014 it's been updated from Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which it shipped with, to the latest version, 4.4 KitKat. For our take on the Nexus 10 when it launched in November 2012, check out our review.

The Nexus 4, made by LG and released in November 2012 with prices starting at $299 for the 8GB version. It ran Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box, and has since been updated to version 4.4. It's got a 4.7-inch 1280x786-resolution display and a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core CPU with 2GB of RAM, and was available globally as a HSPA+ (42Mbps) device until mid-2013.

The Galaxy Nexus, released in late 2011 with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, was the last Nexus phone made by Samsung. For much of its life it was exclusive to Verizon in the U.S. Elsewhere a HSPA+ version was sold with a slightly smaller battery and slimmer chassis. In mid-2012 this unlocked version was sold through the Google Play Store in the U.S. The Gnex, as it's sometimes called, was updated to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, but not the newer 4.4 KitKat.

The 2012 Nexus 7, the first Nexus tablet. Manufactured by ASUS, this device made waves due to its low price point — $199 for the 8GB model — and relatively high specs for the time. It included an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM and a 1280x800 display. Later a version with HSPA+ cellular data was made available for an additional markup.

The Nexus Q, Google's ill-fated streaming orb. The Q was announced at the Google I/O 2012 developer conference, where 5,000 of the spheres were given to attendees. However due to its high price ($300) and limited functionality (it could only stream stuff from Google's ecosystem) the Nexus Q never saw widespread release. Those who pre-ordered were shipped a Q free of charge, and it was eventually replaced by the Chromecast dongle in 2013.

The Samsung Nexus S, released in late 2010, showcased Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Only the second Nexus handset to launch, its hardware was based upon Samsung's original Galaxy S. It was also the first Android phone with NFC, a new feature in Gingerbread. A Sprint version with Wimax data, the Nexus S 4G, emerged in mid-2011.

The Nexus One, the original Nexus sold by Google online, made by HTC and released in early 2010. With a 1GHz CPU, a high-res (for the time) display and Android 2.1 Eclair preloaded, the N1 established the combination of vanilla Android, timely updates and high-end hardware for which the Nexus line has become known.

All Nexus

Google surprised us yesterday with not just a new version of Android, dubbed Android L, but also the announcement of early preview builds to let developers get to grips with the new OS. Today, on the second day of Google I/O, we've finally gotten our hands on the Android L preview for the Nexus 5...

This part is important:
The Android preview system image is not a stable release, and may contain errors and defects that can result in damage to your computer systems, devices, and data. The preview Android system image is not subject to the same testing as the factory OS and can cause your...

Preview of next Android version lands alongside SDKs
As promised during the Google I/O keynote yesterday, Google has released developer preview builds for the next version of Android — currently known only as Android "L" — for developers to test on the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2013, Wifi-only). The...

While the spotlight may have shifted to Android 4.4.4 for many Nexus devices, the LTE-enabled version of the Nexus 7 now has its Android 4.4.3 factory image file available. The mobile-enabled versions of Nexus tablets often lag a bit behind the Wifi-only models when it comes to updates (for...

Nexus phones are easy to update by design — here's how to take advantage of that
More people than ever own a Nexus device. From the introduction of the Nexus One in January 2010, and through the subsequent releases to the Nexus 6 in 2014, the numbers keep growing. Plus, we've got the Nexus 7...

T-Mobile is running a special $24 discount promotion on the Google Nexus 5. This essentially takes the price of the Nexus 5 down to $372 with service from T-Mobile, even though said service doesn't require a contract.
For comparison, the same 16 GB configuration of the Nexus 5 retails for $349...

Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10 all included — no sign of OTAs just yet
Google has just posted Android 4.4.4 factory images for several Nexus devices, following up seemingly randomly after the very publicized release of Android 4.4.3, which has recently just finished rolling out OTA. The images have just...

UK retailer Carphone Warehouse is once again selling the Nexus 5 SIM-free, and this time with a substantial discount. The 16GB Nexus 5 is now on sale for £249.95, around £50 off the Google Play Store price, in black, white and eye-melting 'bright red' color options.
It's not the first time...

Over-the-air update files now available for multiple devices
Following the recent release of Android 4.4.3 for Nexus devices in factory image form, the first over-the-air updates have started rolling out this morning. So far we've confirmed it's rolling out for the Nexus 7 2013 (Wifi), Nexus 5...

New Android version brings redesigned Phone app along with anticipated bug fixes
In an effort to create a balance in the force, Google has dropped the Android 4.4.3 image for the Nexus 5, Nexus 7 2013 (excluding the LTE version at present), Nexus 7 2012, Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 on their downloads...

Update: T-Mobile has also posted an update page for the LTE Nexus 7, which it identifies as Android 4.4.3, build KTU84L. We're still not seeing the update on any devices.
Here we go again. T-Mobile says Android 4.4.3 is coming to the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 today. Bugfixes and security enhancements...

Your phone is filthy and covered with scratches — but it still looks better than your computer monitor
I chanced across my little USB microscope the other day while looking for a printer cable. I never found the printer cable, but I did keep the microscope on my desk because I knew I would find...

Google has greatly expanded the availability of their mobile products. The Nexus 5 smartphone, Nexus 7 tablet, and Chromecast have each added new countries to their lists. The Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 can now be purchased in Norway and Switzerland.
The big winner here, however, are potential...

If you don't mind your gadgets refurbished, head over to Ebay and grab a 16 GB Nexus 7 2013 tablet for $149. Newegg is selling the tablet on Ebay for $50 less than what it is available for on its own store. A brand new 16 GB Nexus 7 2013 Wi-Fi model retails for $229, although you can get one for...

It's plastic, and it protects your Nexus 5
A day after it first went on sale on Google Play, we now have the official Nexus 5 Snap Case in our hot little hands. It's a $29.99 plastic shell that fits onto the back of your Nexus 5, and it's available in five colors — black (which has that nice...

Google Play has just added yet another case offering for the Nexus 5, this time called the Snap Case. It's a hard-sided case (hence why it'd need to "snap" on) that fits around all sides of the Nexus 5, and is a harder-looking material than the previous Nexus 5 Bumper case.
It's available in...

Google is teaming up with Asus to offer a £50 Play Store credit in the UK along with a purchase of the 16 GB Nexus 7 2013. Customers purchasing from a variety of UK retailers like Asda , Carphone Warehouse, Currys, Tesco and Very are eligible to receive the Play Store credit. While this doesn't...

Heads up, folks. You can get a black Nexus 7 2013 — of the 32GB variety — for just $169.99 on eBay today. It's refurbished, which means it's not brand-new. But you can't really beat this price.
You get a 90-day warranty along with it.
The question on the tip of everyone's tongue, however, is...

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